So I had an idea for a small project. It would essentially work as an ongoing boardfic (a story involving characters based on board members), where one person starts it (me) and each person adds a bit more and the story goes wherever contributors decide to take it.

As it's a movie, those taking part would do a scene or two each, either taking an existing plot thread and building on it or introducing a new one (although obviously in moderation, otherwise things will get overly complicated). You may incorporate elements of whatever genre you so wish (action, thriller, horror, romance, epic, etc) even if it means that a scene is in complete contrast to the one before it. It can vary drastically in tone and seriousness, but you should know that if we decide to do this, I for one will be writing a completely ridiculous opening scene. Basically it's about showing off what you can do in each of the genres and doing with it what you like. There's no specifically set theme and no set length.

The main thing I hope will make this more interesting than a conventional group boardfic is that how you present your scene(s) is up to you. If you want to stick to traditional prose, that's fine (as long as you keep in mind that it has to work as a movie, so lengthy exposition won't work). You can also write it as a proper film script, or if you're more artistically inclined you could do a storyboard or a comic strip or an animation or anything else that comes to mind.

There will be some necessary rules and guidelines in order to stop the thing from falling apart, but I'll post those once we've seen how many people are interested. If anybody is, we'll have a list of contributors and work our way down it to prevent crossposting.

As traditionally people sign up for things and then disappear off the face of existence, for each person a maximum of two weeks will be given for them to at least show up and post to say that they still plan to contribute. If you know you won't be able to contribute when it's your turn because either you're busy with life or you just don't feel you can add anything at that point, say so and we can move you to the end of the list or alternatively remove you altogether (as we'll have to do if we get people disappearing for long periods and end up with dead weight on the list).

So. Anybody tentatively up for it? If you have any questions, ask away.

If there is a list and the said amount of butt prodding, I'm in, just don't let me forget it.

Me too.

Me too, with no promises for the next three weeks... I'd pick it up once we unpacked, though.

Me also!

OK, some rules/guidelines...

• As ridiculous as the plot gets, we don't let it degenerate into something that's just a complete mess. It's about taking a story thread (or introducing a new one) and doing something with it. You can take it in a completely new direction, but don't run it into the ground. This includes things like gratuitously killing off characters, introducing too many new characters too fast or throwing in cheap revelations/plot twists that serve no purpose or just aren't credible within the story. This is obviously going to depend on personal judgement to a large extent. You can be as silly as you like, just don't kill the thing.

• If you decide to join in, your scene or scenes have to be substantial. They don't have to be long, but they do have to take the plot thread you've chosen to continue somewhere. Cliffhangers are fine, but try not to use any that will overly restrict what the next person can do. And no leaving final sentences incomplete for others to finish. You finish your scenes.

• Although this is fundamentally a boardfic, the 'movie' should stand on its own as something that would be enjoyable for someone who doesn't know us (newbies, for example). Board in-jokes and Pratchett references are fine as long as the scene still works independently of knowledge of specific books or running board gags and they don't obscure the plot. Otherwise we'll end up with the kind of thing highlighted in the first point.

That's about it, as far as I can see for now. If anything else becomes problematic or emerges later on, we can add new guidelines if we need to.

*joins*

That's syllabism for you.

I am very interested in this but know by now that I can't be relied on to follow up on these things. So it's probably better if I just watch.

I can join... It can fill in those long, lazy days at work when i should be doing something productive but just can't get up the energy.

hmmm.... okay.
i shall try my best to not kill it, anyway.

Amen to that.

I'll treat it like a do most other movies- that is, sing along if it's a musical and occasionally throw popcorn. =)

I think we have enough people to at least get it started. Keep signing up anyway if there's anybody else, and I'll post the first scene as soon as I can.

Well, I'll put my name in.

But, well, you know.

me too!

Unless Uni kills me first

I'm down. This might keep me checking the boards more often.